Central High School
RoboLancers
Team #321
Ogontz and Olney Avenues
Philadelphia PA 19141
Sponsors
John McMillian
Michael Fowler
Mentors
Chris Whelan - Parent
Muhsin Abdur-Rahim -
LaSalle University Student
Keith Sevcik -
Drexel University Student
Shreyansh Shah -
Drexel University Student
Officers
Captain
Zachary Powers
Co-Captains
Joshua Magarick
Andrew Garson
About the Program:
The Central High School Robotics Team#321, RoboLancers, has participated in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) since January 1999.
- January 1999 Philabotics I
- January 2000 Philabotics II
- January 2001 Philabotics III – Balanced balls on a bridge
- January 2002 CHIP (Central High Intelligence Project)
- January 2003 Utter Confusion – Toppled piles of crates
- January 2004 EntroPI - Caught and dispensed balls
FIRST is an annual robotics competition, where corporations and/or universities team up with high school students to build a gladiator robot to perform with other robots in various high tech sporting events.There are two major events scheduled each year in the FIRST Competitions-the regional and national competitions. These competitions are routinely scheduled in late March and May of each school year, respectively. Each team has six (6) weeks from kickoff to build a robot that will fulfill the objectives of the competitions (specified as the Game). The objectives of the game are changed each year. The Game is revealed to area coordinators, sponsors, and team supervisors in Manchester, New Hampshire and via satellite to regional sites across the nation, Canada, and Brazil on the first Saturday in January of the competition.
About the Team:
The team is organized into task-oriented groups: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer animation and website, promotional and finance management. Each group elects a captain and co-captain. Members of the team work on multiple tasks within their group until robot assembly begins. During the assembly phase, all members of the various groups work as a full team. Work sessions begin at 3PM and continue until 10:00PM, Monday through Friday during the 6 week work period of the competition.
About the Robot:
The “robot-gladiators” are constructed from a wide range of materials including aluminum, fiberglass, plywood, and PVC. Each robot can weigh up to 130 pounds and must start each match no larger than 30” x 36” x 48.” The robots use a 12V sealed acid battery. The battery powers motors, an air pump, pneumatic cylinders, valves, speed controllers, sensors, and a programmable control system. The robot operators use joysticks and switches to remotely control the robot via a digital radio system.
Meetings:Meetings are held in Room 301 afterschool (3:00 PM to 4:30 PM) on Wednesday. Extended hours during January and February.
NEW MEMBERS ARE WELCOME!